To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of national health service dentistry in the Vale of Evesham. [9193]

There are problems with availability of national health service dentistry in the Vale of Evesham. It is the responsibility of health authorities to oversee the provision of NHS dental services in their locality. At the request of Worcestershire health authority, the Secretary of State authorised on 18 July a specific arrangement in Evesham designed to improve the availability of these services. The health authority is also seeking to employ a salaried dentist in Pershore and Kidderminister.